Streptocarpus plant named ‘KLEST07337’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Streptocarpus  plant named ‘KLEST07337’, characterized by its outwardly spreading to trailing growth habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; double red purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Streptocarpus saxorum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KLEST07337’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofStreptocarpus, botanically known as Streptocarpus saxorum andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘KLEST07337’.

The new Streptocarpus is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Stuttgart, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new compact Streptocarpus cultivars withlarge attractive flowers.

The new Streptocarpus originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in 2003 in Stuttgart, Germany of an unnamed proprietaryselection of Streptocarpus saxorum, not patented, as the female, orseed, parent with a proprietary selection of Streptocarpus saxorumidentified as code number A 014, not patented, as the male, or pollen,parent. The new Streptocarpus was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled environment in Stuttgart, Germany in2004.

Asexual reproduction of the new Streptocarpus by cuttings in acontrolled environment in Stuttgart, Germany since June, 2004, has shownthat the unique features of this new Streptocarpus are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar KLEST07337 has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘KLEST07337’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘KLEST07337’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofStreptocarpus:

-   -   1. Upright and mounding growth habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Relatively small leaves.    -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Dark violet-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Streptocarpus can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Streptocarpus differ from plants ofthe female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Streptocarpus are more compact than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Streptocarpus and the female parent        selection differ in flower color as plants of the female parent        selection have lighter violet-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Streptocarpus can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. Plants of the new Streptocarpus differ from plants ofthe male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Streptocarpus have smaller flowers than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Streptocarpus and the male parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection        have lighter violet-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Streptocarpus can be compared to plants of theStreptocarpus cultivar Butterfly, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Stuttgart, Germany, plants of the newStreptocarpus differed from plants of the cultivar Butterfly in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Streptocarpus were less vigorous than        plants of the cultivar Butterfly.    -   2. Plants of the new Streptocarpus had smaller leaves than        plants of the cultivar Butterfly.    -   3. Plants of the new Streptocarpus had smaller flowers than        plants of the cultivar Butterfly.    -   4. Plants of the new Streptocarpus and the cultivar Butterfly        differed in flower color as plants of the cultivar Butterfly had        lighter violet-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Streptocarpus, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Streptocarpus. The photograph is a close-up view of typicalleaves and flowers of ‘KLEST07337’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in Stuttgart, Germany, under commercialpractice during the spring in a glass-covered greenhouse with daytemperatures ranging from 15° C. to 20° C., night temperatures rangingfrom 12° C. to 15° C. and maximum light levels of 50,000 lux. Plantswere pinched one time. Rooted young plants had been growing for aboutthree months when the photograph and description were taken. Plants usedfor the description were grown in 10-cm containers. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Streptocarpus saxorum cultivar KLEST07337.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of            Streptocarpus saxorum not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Streptocarpus saxorum identified as code number A 014, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 12 days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 15 days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 17 days            at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 21 days            at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; grey in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and mounding growth habit.            Freely branching habit with about four to five lateral            branches; low vigor.        -   Plant height.—About 10 cm to 15 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 15 cm to 20 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 10 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 2 mm to 4 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1 cm to 2 cm.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Texture.—Slightly pubescent.        -   Color.—Close to 144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 2 cm to 4 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.5 cm to 3 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; leathery.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface:            137A; venation, 137A. Developing and fully expanded foliage,            lower surface: 139C; venation, 139C.        -   Petiole length.—About 1 cm.        -   Petiole diameter.—About 1 mm to 1.5 mm.        -   Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Velvety.        -   Petiole color, upper surface.—Close to 137A.        -   Petiole color, lower surface.—Close to 139C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers            arranged on terminal and axillary racemes. Freely flowering            habit with usually about two to five flowers per            inflorescence and 30 to 40 flowers developing per plant.            Flowers not persistent. Flowers face mostly outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously            throughout the year in Germany; plants begin flowering about            five to six weeks after planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about two to three            days on the plant.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2 cm to 2.5 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 3 cm to 4 cm.        -   Corolla tube length.—About 3.5 cm.        -   Flower bud.—Shape: Ovoid. Length: About 5 mm to 8 mm.            Diameter: About 3 mm. Color: 83A.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base. Length:            About 2 cm to 3 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm to 2 cm. Shape:            Reniform. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and            fully opened, upper surface: Between 90A and 83A; towards            the base, close to 155D; color becoming closer to 90C with            development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:            83D.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: One funnel-shaped calyx tube with five            sepals fused at the base per flower. Length: About 3 mm to            4 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; satiny. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 200B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 10 cm to 15 cm. Diameter: About            1 mm. Angle: About 30° to 70° from vertical. Strength: Weak.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 187A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2 cm to 3 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Angle: About 30° from peduncle axis. Strength: Weak.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 187A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: About            three per flower. Anther shape: Elliptic. Anther length:            About 1 mm. Anther color: 11D. Pollen amount: Moderate.            Pollen color: 11B. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil            length: About 1 cm. Stigma shape: Reniform. Ovary color:            144B. Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Streptocarpus.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Streptocarpus have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 12° C. to about    35° C.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Streptocarpus have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Streptocarpus.

1. A new and distinct Streptocarpus plant named ‘KLEST07337’ asillustrated and described.